Bridgwater Head joins friends to swim a whopping 68 kilometres ‘English-Channel-and-back’ feat to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Deb Loveridge, Headteacher at Robert Blake Science College, has raised over £1000 for Alzheimer’s awareness by taking part in ‘Swimming Down Dementia’.  

She and three friends started did two months of swimming at their pool and have just celebrated swimming the equivalent of the English Channel and back again.

Deb finished the challenge with a surge of 5 swims a week.

Deb said, “The English Channel is 34 km and as we were doing so well by the start of October, we decided to aim to swim 68 km, ie. to France and back again. 

“It was tough going in the last week. While we were determined to finish the swim successfully, thankfully in half term, I managed 5 swims rather than the usual 2 per week!”

Across the country, 933 swimmers swam a total of 94,930km and raised £137,917 to be able to carry on the fantastic work of the charity to continue much needed research into the terrible disease that will affect 1 in 3 of us in the UK during our life time.  

Deb continued, “Our team, made up of Suze Daw, Alison Hindley and Claire Baumgardt, swam a total of 68.15 km and raised £1063.35.  I am delighted with our efforts. Getting fit whilst helping a good cause is the perfect combination.”